Head-to-head comparison
Allegany College of Maryland vs Fortis Institute-Towson: which has better ROI?
Option A Cumberland, MD
Allegany College of Maryland
- Net price / year
- $8,819
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,476
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Towson, MD
Fortis Institute-Towson
- Net price / year
- $31,549
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,368
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Allegany College of Maryland comes closer — median earnings $38,476 against a $17,638 total, vs $36,368 at Fortis Institute-Towson. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Allegany College of Maryland | Fortis Institute-Towson |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,819 | $31,549 |
| Total net cost | $17,638 | $126,196 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,476 | $36,368 |
| Median debt | $13,702 | $12,547 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$215,318 | -$366,036 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Allegany College of Maryland or Fortis Institute-Towson?
Allegany College of Maryland, at $8,819 a year after aid versus $31,549 — a gap of $22,730 a year, or $108,558 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Allegany College of Maryland or Fortis Institute-Towson graduates earn more?
Allegany College of Maryland graduates report a median $38,476 ten years after entry, $2,108 more than the $36,368 at Fortis Institute-Towson. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Allegany College of Maryland or Fortis Institute-Towson?
Fortis Institute-Towson: its completers carry a median $12,547 in federal loans versus $13,702 at Allegany College of Maryland, a difference of $1,155. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
44% of students finish at Fortis Institute-Towson, against 40% at Allegany College of Maryland. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.